The Christmas Cranks

Oh, Christmas. Why is it that I always think you are my favorite time of the year? In reality, the days leading up to the joyous day have me alternating between cowering under the covers hesitant to even face the world, spewing venom and anger for all my frustrations, or maniacally bouncing from one item on my to-do list to another accomplishing nothing.

Instead, this year in an effort to maintain my sanity, I have been saying no to others and myself; I have been switching off the phone when there are tasks to accomplish and sometimes when there's not; I've even been neglecting the social networking that sometimes feels more like work than relief; and I've been doing my very best to ignore the feelings of guilt the first three cause.

Of course, the heavy doses of Christmas music and Mallomars are helping too. And, when things get at their very worst, it never hurts to listen to my 'Cranky Christmas' playlist because sometimes you can just tap out on all the holly jolly.


Cranky Christmas Playlist (on regular holiday rotation since 2007)
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Green Christmas- Barenaked Ladies

Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)- Sufjan Stevens

Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)- Pearl Jam

Mr. Heat Miser- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Nuttin' for Christmas- Smash Mouth

Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)- John Denver

Santa's Beard- They Might Be Giants

You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch- Boris Karloff

That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!- Sufjan Stevens

And the most honest and true holiday song I've ever heard:

Just for Now- Imogen Heap

Oh, and a little David Sedaris never hurts to brighten my day either.

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So fill me in. How do you handle the stress and maintain your sanity during the holidays?

Blogging Lesson Learned

I'm thinking that I'm going to have to be done with the internet for a while. It seems that I just can't read things without getting upset and I really need a less stressful zone. Although I know that's really what blogs are about- eliciting an emotional response and venting.

What's really getting to me tonight is how a small incident, a minor less-than-stellar teaching performance can bring out all the anti-public school advocates. Today, I was over at one of my favorite blogs Motherhood Uncensored where she was writing about a comment the teacher wrote on the top of her daughter's paper. It was an example of poor feedback but nothing to really get up in arms about as an isolated thing. However, the comments, as usually happens for Mom Bloggers, were all cries of outrage. There were comments about choosing to homeschool/change schools because of incidents like this. Feeling a need to offer an alternative to the fast and furious, heading over the deep end trek, I commented. I commented with what I felt was a reasoned and logical explanation for the teacher's feedback.

In the end, it changed nothing. I was seen as the pro-establishment voice and uninformed reader. It just saddens me that one isolated incident of subpar teaching could be used to motivate many other parents (she has quite a readership) to view any kind of "standard" education as injurious to a child's well-being.

I guess in the end I am pro-public schools. As a teacher for 6 years and the daughter of a 30 year veteran, it's expected. That's not to say I don't think there are bad policies, bad teachers, and bad practices. I just think public education like many local news and blog worthy stories tends to only gather notice when it stumbles and, in addition, I happen to think that kids are a lot more resilient than we, as mothers, think them to be.

Either way, lesson learned: Don't mess with a mommy when she's in venting mode with a loyal audience.

Holiday Tree Activity

The holiday season is a really busy time. There's decorations to hang, gifts to buy and wrap, and parties to attend. Not to mention all the baking, phone calls for plan making, and actually trying to find time to enjoy it all. It's a wonder my clothes are cleaned even if they aren't folded. With the giant list of things to do, I'm sorry to say the blog may be neglected. I'll still try to post as often as my sanity will allow but probably not as frequent as usual.

Another thing the holiday season means (at least in most of the US) is cold temperatures. Trips to the park are less frequent and indoor activities become the usual. Here's an activity that I tossed at two toddlers yesterday (Linus and his cousin M) that actually kept them occupied and working together for an eternity in toddler time (which translates to a good 15 minutes).

All I needed were three things: mini artificial Christmas trees (I got mine at Michael's a few years ago), pipe cleaners, and assorted pom-poms. Simply tell the kids they are to decorate their tree, demonstrate to get them started, and then hand it over. There's no glue needed, the decorations stick to the tree all by themselves, and kids can do this activity again and again.

Turkey Day

Been a bit absent this week because, well, it's Thanksgiving. Between the cooking and actually letting myself relax, writing about it just hasn't been a priority. You understand, right?

My contributions to the big meal this year include brining and roasting the turkey, the cranberry-apple sausage stuffing, roasted root vegetables, roasted brussel sprouts with red onion, a pecan pie, and if all goes as planned a cranberry-apple galette with caramel sauce.

Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving!

Scrooges, All of You

As it always does this time of year, the debate is raging: Is it too early for Christmas? I will admit that in the past, I was definitely on the side of "not until Black Friday" when it came to Christmas, but this year is different.


*standing up tall, shoulders back* 

I will admit it. I have started and I don't care what you think. We've got Christmas music daily (though we are already sick of the 24/7 Xmas station's 10 song rotation), a start on the outside lights (not on yet though), and holiday beverages flowing. If my husband would let me, I'd start putting decorations up. But as it is, they are strewn across the family room awaiting the ok.  

I have a good excuse for this jump start... really I do. This is the first Christmas that Linus is really and truly gonna know what's going on and that's my driving force. I'm just so excited to share it all with him. Plus, the reality is that it's gonna take at least a month to get up all the decorations (I'm doing 4 trees and have a closet entirely devoted to Christmas) with a toddler assisting. 

And as far as the Christmas lights, it has taken 2 afternoons and 2 trips to Target for my husband to get up 2 strings of lights. Believe me when I say we need the extra time.  

I love Thanksgiving. I do. But everything about that is already planned and color coded on a spreadsheet. All that's left is the cooking. Why wouldn't I go ahead and get started on Christmas?  

However, if all of that is not a good enough excuse, I will give one that will end all other arguments. Here it is: My email from Martha told me that I should have my Christmas cards already made or purchased by this week and I haven't even started. You see, Martha thinks I'm behind and that's just killing me.

So, there.

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This post is in response to Marty's (who is obviously my long lost Christmas sister) latest post over at Triangle Mamas and the continuing Triangle Mama's Twitter-bate regarding the official Christmas start date.

Condensed Classics: Frosty the Snowman

There's just so much sad right now that I figure we need a little pick me up, or at least I do. Plus, this at least offers a bit of reasoning why I'm already in Christmas mode despite Thanksgiving being a week away.




(Yes, that is me at the end trying very hard to not crack-up but ultimately totally losing it.)